Abram's Daughters 05 The Revelation (29 page)

"Ain't a single foe under this roof," Dat said calmly.

A flicker of recognition crossed Peter's eyes as he fixed his gaze on Leah and frowned. "You were in my carriage yesterday."

She nodded.

Dat spoke up. "Leah might've been a goner if she hadn't stopped your runaway horse. It was a true miracle of God she wasn't run over by the buggy wheels!" He went on to describe her fractured rib and many scrapes and bruises, embarrassing Leah no end. He surprised her even more by saying, "Here's your Good Samaritan, Peter." Dat motioned for her to come closer. "I'd have to say my Leah spared your hide."

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The three of them stood looking at one another, but mostly IVtcr stared at Leah, which made her feel utterly uncomfortable. At Lint Dat motioned for her to leave, and she went gladly, wondering

11 her lather's sharp words to Cousin Peter would help or hinder the lunjr standing feud between them. Time would surely tell.

She hobbled out to the kitchen and sat at the table to rest. She was both surprised and pleased to hear Jonas's voice as he entered jUic I nick door.

H "Ach, be gentle with her," Aunt Lizzie warned him. I hat didn't stop him from coming near, wet through though he %/as Irom the rain. Lightly he touched Leah's bruised face.

"You best be stayin' for breakfast if you want to hear all 'bout ii," Aunt Lizzie said, carrying a second large platter of bacon and i ggs to the table.

" Mandie told Jake and me late last night you were hurt. I prayed is soon as I heard."

" Everything happened so fast. And Dat took me off to the clinic i ight away." She mentioned his father was still here. "He's talkin' to I )at now," Leah whispered as they went to sit together at the long uble.

"Well, isn't this progress?" said Jonas, smiling. "They're talkin'

10 each other at least all 'cause of what you did."

She shook her head. "Anybody would've tried."

Aunt Lizzie laughed. "I ain't exactly sure of that." She went back

10 tend to her parfeakes. "Plenty of women folk wouldn't have taken on a wild horse and a drunk man."

"Oh, Aendi!" said Leah. "Ya mustn't go on so."

"We'll have to look after you better. Can't have my bride-to-be i hasin' down stallions." Jonas grinned playfully.

She returned his smile, enjoying his company. "You're such a lease.

You re just noticin ?

Aunt Lizzie coughed slightly and looked their way. "You two best be takin' your lovey-dovey talk out to the barn."

"Jah, a gut idea" Jonas eyed the serving dishes of piping hot lood "right after breakfast, maybe."

They discussed quietly between them what could be done to

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help his father. "I'm thinkin' Bishop Lapp isn't the only one who can befriend Dat," Jonas said. "In time your Dat might just be someone to come alongside him, too."

Leah agreed, listening as Jonas mentioned other men who might lead his father to lasting peace.

Just then Leah heard her father's voice, and then Peter's, too. "Well, what do ya know," she whispered. "Maybe their grudge is comin' to an end."

"I sure hope so," Jonas whispered. , Leah agreed. What better thing to happen on Easter Monday?

Jonas led the way in the pouring rain to Eli's, eager for his father to visit with Jake. Evidently Leah's risking her life for his had made a startling difference in his father. Jonas had seen it firsthand in the way his Dat had talked almost agreeably with Abram and Aunt Lizzie at the breakfast table not but an hour ago, even remaining at his place well after he'd finished eating.

Could it be he s softening toward the Ebersols?

When they arrived at the small farmhouse, Jonas rushed to the house for a raincoat for his father and then they hurried together through the puddles to the back door.

Inside the outer room, Jonas called into the kitchen, "Jake, you've got yourself a visitor."

Jake's eyes popped wide at the sight of Dat, and before he could speak, their father was already saying, "Hullo, son."

"Come in," Jake said, eyes alight. He pulled up a chair for Dal and then went to pour coffee, his movements belying an undoubted sudden case of nerves. "We fellas have to fend for ourselves . . . cookin' and whatnot. A jolting experience, to say the least." Quickly he offered both Jonas and Dat biscuits and some apple butter. "Eli baked these up this mornin'."

Jonas reached for one and took a single bite, eating it plain, keenly reminded of Eli's mediocre baking skills.

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Juke volunteered to pour more coffee for Dat the moment he finluliccf his first cup and encouraged him to have another biscuit.

"Mighty gut seein' you, Jake," said Dat, looking at his son for I he longest time. Jonas nearly dropped his coffee cup, and his father (Ml ted his weight in the chair, sighing. "It was foolish and wrong of We to send you away. I knew it then . . . know it now, too."

After receiving no response from Jake, who was obviously at a Inig for words, Dat turned to Jonas. "I was out of order, talkin' the Wiiy I did to you . . . that day Dr. Schwartz came to the house."

Jake spoke up at last. "It takes some getting used to, seein' you I H'l'c. That's all."

Dat's eyes watered and his expression was somber. He gazed at I < >ih of them as if he had lost them for too long and was bound and ili'termined to get them back. "You'll be seein' a lot more of me, if \nii'rc willin'."

lake frowned and plunked down at the head of the table, where I'.li always sat. "If you're sayin' I'm welcome at home, I don't mean i > Ik rilpsich rude but I don't think I can agree to it, unless . . ." |,ikc hesitated, glancing at Jonas.

"What is it?" Dat asked.

"Well, are you and Mamma agreeable to attendin' Jonas's wediling?" Jake's tone was respectful, but his face was painfully sincere.

Jonas felt the urge to give in to a chuckle but quickly squelched it. He was touched by Jake's obvious loyalty and wanted to help his brother along, ea^er to hear what his father might say, as well. He id dressed Dat himself. "Will ya. come and witness my marriage to Abram's Leah?"

Dat's eyes locked with his. "An Ebersol, ya say?"

"A peach of a girl." Jonas did not breathe.

A shroud of silence hung over the room as his father appeared to

< insider Jonas's request. Then, shaking his head, he replied, No ... I'd have to say a young woman who risks her life for an old man like this is not a piece of fruit so much as she is an angel in disguise." He rose unexpectedly. "Just say when and where, and the whole family will be there with our blessing."

Jonas went to shake his father's extended hand and bumped into

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Jake, who was headed like an arrow to its mark. Dat wrapped his burly arms around both of them before standing to offer the sort ol genuine smile Jonas hadn't seen on his face since before he'd returned for good from Ohio. He couldn't help wondering what Bishop Lapp might think if he were observing this small reunion.

"Tell Mamma and Mandie I'll be home in time for supper," said Jake, walking Dat to the door.

Jonas took up the rear, deciding not to say a word just now about his plans to stay on here with Eli till Leah and he were married. What mattered now was that his little brother had been welcomed home and, seemingly, all was well.

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lii I lie weeks that followed, Abram marveled at the loving care

1'iiuis demonstrated toward Leah. Without fail he walked over from

11 ir blacksmith shop each day, carrying his brown lunch bag to sit iH'jcr to her at the table, doting while he benefited from helpings of

I i/,/ic's tasty fruit pies or chocolate cakes. Seeing Leah and Jonas i noing at each other like turtledoves made Abram's heart mighty f.Jjcl.

Adah Peachey Ebersol stopped by to see Leah several times a week, as well, but it was Sadie who spent nearly every free moment with her sister, doing for her even when she protested. There were

I1 mi's when Abram saw them whispering like young girls, their lu-iuls close together, eyes bright with their newest secret.

Most surprising to Abram, though, were Peter Mast's visits. The mm came over often, saying he was "on his way somewhere," but illy or so Abram thought he was coming to see about Leah, Bmvrned she was mending properly. Peter took each opportunity '> apologize anew to Abram, declaring up and down he was "es '> hlimmscht vun Narre" the worst of fools.

Abram had insisted there was more than one Glotzkopp between ilic-in. He'd apologized more than once for having been deceitful i ii(>ugh nearly eighteen years ago to let Peter think Gid was courting I f.ih while she was engaged to Jonas. Both Abram and Peter agreed

258 ," . Beverly Lewis '

they had plenty of lost years to make up for, and it was Peter who said, " 'Tis a gut thing we didn't go to our graves shunnin' each other." Abram wholeheartedly agreed, mighty glad to have renewi'il the kinship.

Following Peter's overnight stay, Abram made the decision 10 help him get his drinking under control, hoping Peter might rem;iin consistently sober for as long as it might take till he had the1 willpower on his own. Both Jonas and Jake were helping their father keep a good distance from strong drink, too Jake especially, now that he was living at home again.

On this particular morning, however, when Peter dropped in 10 visit, both men got to talking. "What say you to having a reunion between our families, and right soon?" asked Peter.

Abram leaned on his shovel. "Sounds fine to me. Come to think of it, Lydiann and Abe have never met Fannie and most of your children."

"Likewise our Mandie and . . ." Peter paused for a second. "But would it be too uncomfortable for Jake and Lydiann, do ya think?"

"Oh, it's bound to be tickly, but it'll have to happen sometinu\ Anyway, Jake was over here for a short visit on Christmas Day . . . talked to Sadie for a while. Lydiann stayed put in the kitchen the whole time." Abram scratched his head, surprised at Peter's thougluful consideration. "I'll have Leah see how Lyddie feels 'bout it." I le didn't say he himself wished to spend some time getting acquainted with his only grandson. That day would come, he felt sure.

"All right, then." Peter headed for the barn door. "Talk to Lizzie, and I'll say something to Fannie."

"Well, I'll be seein' ya. Have a wunderbaar day!" he called, still getting used to this cousin's stopping by to chew the fat.

Lydiann caught up with Mamma Leah, who was walking very slowly back from the outhouse. "Sure's a nice day, ain't?"

"The weather's teasin' us, I think." Mamma smiled faintly, "Somethin' on your mind, dear?"259The Revelation ,

I l.ycliaim looked warily at the sky. "Cousin Peter and Dat. . . Ilii v sure liave been spendin' quite a lot of time together, visitin' and Bulking round the barn and such." I "|iili, t lie way it used to be."

I She sighed. "It's right nice, them talkin' to each other again, ltdi , . lo tell the truth, it's got me worried some." I "Why's that, Lyddie?"

I Well, with me havin' cared for Jake as my beau, it seems kind in iwkward, them no longer being at odds." She felt she ought to Hi mi ic right out and say what she was thinking. "And since you're Hi mii' to marry Jonas come fall, it just seems the families will be getIll i together more and more often."

I Mamma stopped right there on the narrow path. "You don't ii\'' feelings for Jake yet, do ya?" I "Well, no, ain't that. ..."

I " 1 guess it's a gut thing we're havin' this chat, Lyddie, 'cause Dat IplK me he and Peter want to have a get-together with both families liM nne of the no-church Sundays, comin' up fairly soon." R I .ycldie nodded. "Makes sense. Abe and I don't know the Mast '"I .ins." Except for Jake and Mandie, she thought. I She looked at the tender young grass shoots pushing through the Poll tint! the bright blue of the springtime sky. "Will it still be ' tl'unge, uh . . . when Jake's married someday, and I'm married to ,tundone else? Will he and I sit across the table, remembering our lii'M singing and"ride together under the moon? Will we always see ihui in each other's eyes?"

Mamma was quiet for a moment. "You wouldn't want to start t'rin' someone else as long as you have those thoughts of Jake." I'.ven now Lyddie didn't see how she could erase the past. "I daresay it'll take some time, but you and a new beau if he Mtn make you forget you cared so deeply for Jake will build your iiwii lovely memories together. And when those most precious thoughts and hopes and recollections fill up all the spaces in your uiiinl, there will be scarcely any room for the ones you made before." "()h, that's dear of you!" Lyddie replied as they turned to walk utWiircl the house. "I can't wait for all those things to come true . . . me day."

260Beverly Lewis ":

They headed into the house, and right away Lydiann smellccl how clean the kitchen was, the walls and floor having been scrubbed down by Sadie. And something delicious was baking in the oven probably one of Aunt Lizzie's favorite desserts, apple crispett.

"God's ways are higher than ours," Mamma Leah whispered to her as they hung their shawls on the wooden pegs.

"That's for sure," she agreed.

Mamma kissed her on the forehead, and as she did, Lydiann noticed a tear. She was filled again with gratitude as she slipped off her shoes to help keep the floor shining clean.

Following the noon meal Leah was tickled to see her friend Adah arrive, and she welcomed her inside. "I'm all done in, so I have a gin excuse to sit and enjoy a cup of tea," Leah said.

Adah looked a bit tuckered out, as well, but her green eyes twin kled as she spoke. "Don't go to any trouble for me."

"Aw, tea's no bother." Leah carried two of her prettiest teacups and saucers to the table and sat down, waiting for the water to boil in the teakettle. "So nice of you to come by again."

They talked of how the weather had been cooperating with the farmers, and Adah said how busy her husband was sterilizing the tobacco beds and plowing the fields. "Sam and the boys will be plantin' potatoes here perty quick, ya know," Adah said. "They're actually a little behind."